What you think is forgetfulness is actually a deficiency: Iron deficiency may be silently consuming you!

Iron deficiency is a common health problem that occurs when the body cannot obtain or use sufficient amounts of iron. Medipol Acıbadem Regional Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra Demir drew attention to the differences between iron deficiency and anemia and made important statements about correct treatment methods. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir stated that iron deficiency can cause problems such as weakness, fatigue and forgetfulness in the body, and said that women, vegetarians and patients with digestive system problems are especially at risk.

IRON DEFICIENCY AND ANEMIA ARE NOT THE SAME THING

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra Demir, who stated that iron deficiency is the condition of having iron levels in the blood below normal, emphasized that iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in blood values ​​due to iron deficiency. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir, who stated that anemia may not be seen in every patient with iron deficiency, said, “Complaints such as weakness, fatigue, forgetfulness, memory problems and difficulty in concentration are frequently seen in people with iron deficiency. For this reason, we recommend that iron is first obtained naturally from foods.”

WHICH FOODS ARE RICH IN IRON?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir, who said that the best sources of iron are green leafy vegetables and meat products, stated that some individuals do not take enough iron or have iron deficiency due to absorption problems. “Vegetarian individuals may develop iron deficiency because they cannot take enough iron due to their diet, and at the same time, we resort to medical treatments in cases such as stomach or intestinal problems, even if iron intake is normal, there will be an absorption problem and iron deficiency may develop,” he said.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir stated that both oral medications and intravenous iron treatments can be applied in iron deficiency, and said, “The dose of iron supplements varies according to age and gender. For example, normal blood values ​​are different for men, women and pregnant patients. Therefore, iron treatment should be planned specifically for the individual.”

TOO MUCH IRON CAN BE HARMFUL

Noting that excessive iron intake can cause accumulation in the body, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir stated that excessive iron accumulation, especially in the liver, can lead to serious health problems. “It is dangerous to take iron supplements without knowing blood values ​​and without a doctor's recommendation. This risk is less in oral supplements, but overdosing in intravenous iron treatments can cause serious problems,” he warned.

WOMEN SHOULD CHECK THEIR BLOOD VALUES REGULARLY

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir, who said that especially premenopausal women should have their iron levels measured at least once a year, drew attention to the importance of replacing the iron lost during menstrual periods. “Patients stop the treatment when they feel better after one or two months of starting iron deficiency treatment. However, the treatment should not be terminated before the iron stores are completely filled. Otherwise, iron deficiency may recur in a short time,” he said.

POST-MENOPAUSE AND IRON DEFICIENCY IN MEN

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir, who stated that there may be a different health problem underlying iron deficiency in postmenopausal or male patients, said, “If iron deficiency is detected in a non-vegetarian individual, further examinations should definitely be performed. Iron deficiency is an unexpected situation in men who eat normally and in postmenopausal women and may be a sign of intestinal or stomach problems.”

INTENSIVE IRON SUPPLEMENTATION SHOULD BE APPLIED CAREFULLY

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demir stated that intravenous iron treatment is preferred for all patients who cannot tolerate oral tablets and for severe anemia of pregnancy, and said that this method must be applied in hospital conditions. He concluded his words by saying, “High amounts of iron given intravenously can cause allergic reactions. Therefore, it is very important for patients to be monitored in a hospital environment.”